r 




JOSKPH KONIGMACHER 

First President of Monument Association 



HISTORY 



OF 



EPHRATA, PENNA. 

GIVING A BRIEF SKETCH OF 

THE SETTLEMENT OF THE STATE AND COUNTY 

THE BATTLE OF BRANDYWINE 

THE CLOISTER AND MONUMENT TO BE ERECTED AT 

MOUNT ZION 

AND 

THE BOROUGH OF EPHRATA 



BY 



D. R. HERTZ 

(For Monument Association) 



PHILADELPHIA 
H. FERKLER, PRINTER, 1123 < HliSTNUT STREET 

1S94 



F/r 



:' 



•^//,- 






THE TRUSTEES OF THE MONUMENT ASSOCIATION 



AND THEIR SUCCESSORS, 



AND ALL WHO IN THE FUTURE WILL BE INTERESTED IN THE 
BUILDING OF SAID MONUMENT. 



PREFACE. 



IN publishing this Souvenir we wish to record many inter- 
esting facts and historical accounts of Ephrata and 
vicinity, in connection with the building of a monument 
to the memory of about 200 soldiers buried on Mt. Ziou ; 
and also, if possible, promote the interest and growth of the 
borough of Ephrata, situated just south of the old historic 
cloister and Mt. Zion, and whose borders are divided only by 
the beautiful banks of the Cocalico Creek. 

For the historic accounts recorded here we are indebted to 
Id citizens and to many writers in former publications, as 
veil as the private records in hands of a few of the members 
f the Monument Association. 

For the photo of the First President of the Association, 
vhose portrait embellishes the first page, we must appreciate 
the kindness of Mr. Christian Smith, at present a citizen of 
the borough of Ephrata and an old member of the Association. 
For a number of the illustrations of the cloister buildings, 
we are indebted to the Phila. Inquirer, whose advertisement 
will be found on another page. 

For the financial support we are greatly indebted to the 
public spirited, enthusiastic and patriotic citizens and business 
people of Ephrata and elsewhere, whose business notices will 
be found among its pages, and to whose recognition we 
earnestly recommend the generous public. 

The short time allotted us in preparing the work, and the 
earnest desire to present historical facts no where else 
recorded, as well as to preserve in particular the accounts of 
the proceedings of the laying of the corner-stone on Sept. 1 ith, 
1845, we mos t respectfull}' ask your due consideration and 
indulgence for whatever has been omitted. 

D. R. H. 

Ephrata, Sept. ist, 1894. 



Eleetfie 
Bells 

Heated by 

Steam 

All IVIodepn 

Improvements 




Hotel 
has been 

Remodeled 
all 
through 



J. A. UMHOliTZ, PPOp. 

The Eagle Hotel 




EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. 



Dr. D. RHINE HERTZ, Chairman. 

JAMES RINGEMAN, Sec'y. JACOB KONICxMACHER, Treas. 

M. S. FRY WILLIAM SHIMP 

J. H. WISSLER J. J. BEAR 

CHARLES S. YEAGER JOHN H. SPERA 

HORACE FRY J. MILTON SHEAFFER 

R. W. BARD Dr. D. J. McCAA 

D. S. VONNIEDA L. E. MILLER 

H. HERCHELROTH Dr. JOHN F. MENTZER 

Representative Members. 

A. M. ACHEY, of P. O. S. of A. 

GEORGE M. GROFF, of I. O. O. F. 

D. G. MARTIN, of E. L. G. F. Co. 



PRESENT 
TRUSTEES OF MONUHENT ASSOCIATION. 



JEREMIAH MOHLER, President. 

JACOB KONIGMACHER, Sec 1 y and Treas. 

Dr. J. F. MENTZER JOSEPH ZERFASS 

MARTIN S. FRY WILLIAM SHIMP 

Dr. D. RHINE HERTZ 



s 



TAUFFER 



31 
o33 
North 
Queen 
Street 



LANCASTER 
PA. 




Furs 
Gloves 

H^ts 

Robes 
k Trunks 



Traveling 
Bags 




CAPT. W. D. Stauffer 

The head of the firm of Stauffer & Co., was born near Ephrata, at Martindale, in 
Earl Township. His grandmother, Mrs. Sarah De Shung Stauffer, was a member of 
the Baptist Church and Society of Ephrata. She frequently told her grandchildren 
about the soldiers of the Revolutionary War, and of her having knit stockings for 
them and attending to the sick and wounded soldiers. 



PROGRAMME OF PARADE. 



PARADE, under the auspices of the Monument Associa- 
tion, in honor of the fallen heroes of the Revolution 
who were wounded at the battle of Brandy wine, Sept. n, 
1777, who died at Ephrata and were buried at Mt. Zion, 
and to whose memory a suitable monument is about to be 
erected, will take place Sept. 11, 1894, in the Borough of 
Ephrata. 

The line will form on East Main St., east of Washington 
Ave., at 9.30 o'clock ; move north to the Academy, then west 
to the cemetery, where appropriate ceremonies will be observed. 



Our Motto: QUICK 
SALES 
and SMALL 
PROFITS. 



THE... 
LEADING, LARGEST 
CHEAPEST 
DRUG STORE in 
LANCASTER. 



..HULL 



No. 

21 West 
° King 
Street 



Largest 
Store ! 



Heaviest 
Stock ! 



WHOLESALE 
AND 
RETAIL 



Druggist 



LANCASTER, PA. 




Greatest Variety 
of Goods! 



Lowest 
Prices ! 



Pure Drujrs 
Sold Only! 



aN Immense Stock of Genuine Patent Medicines, on which our Prices are 
always Lower than any other Drug Store in the City. 
Foreign and Domestic Toilet and Fancy Articles, Soaps, Brushes, 
Perfumery, etc. Trusses of every description at reasonable prices. 
Crutches, all sizes. Tooth, Hair, Nail, < 'loth, Shaving, Hat and Infant 
Brushes in endless variety. Preparations for the Teeth. All kinds of Pills, Plasters, 
Liniments, Chamois Skin's, Sponges, etc. Infant and Invalid Foods. 

An inspection of our Barge and Elegant Stock will fully repay a visit to our 
store. We wish to impress upon your minds that we are anxious to show goods, 
and that our visitors incur no obligations to purchase. We can make your money 
go farther and secure better goods than any other Drug Store in Baneaster. 

In Medicine, "Quality is of the First Importance," and we are determined 
that there shall be no cause to complain of any article purchased of us. Our aim 
and our practice is to carry Strictly First-Class Goods, and our pride is to supply 
every patron with the Very Best, at Reasonable Prices. 

CAREFUL AND ACCURATE DISPENSING 
.. OF PRESCRIPTIONS 

"<-— ==^OUR SPECIALTY. 

If Pure, Fresh Drugs, Polite Attention and Reasonable Prices are an induce- 
ment, we feel confident that you will find it to your interest to give us your 
patronage. We occupy the entire building, 1 floors and basement, for carrying on 

the Drug Business. 

Respectfully, 

GEO. W. HULL 



23 



West King Street 

LANCASTER, PA. 



...Prescription 

...druggist 



.^g §>% 



Programme of the Day. 



MORNING EXERCISES 



VOCAL AND INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC. 
INVOCATION . by Rev. J. W. Smith, of the Lutheran Churc 

MUSIC. 

MEMORIAL ADDRESS 

by Prof. J. A. Dubbs, of Theological Seminary, Laneasti 






VVhat shall I get to wear this Fall ? 



Where 



We know what a momentous question this is, and to help the ladies in just 
such a dilemma is one of the reasons we are in business. 

For the past several months we have been busy and earnest, with all the 
power of capital, brains and selections at our command, in bringing 
you the best goods at the least possible prices. 
Not a week, hardly a day, passes without new styles coming to the 
front and worthy of the most careful attention. We could not 
afford to have anything that pccple would not admire. 
Our reputation as retailers of first-class goods is at stake, and 
this is the spur that keeps urging us on each season to get 
new and better goods at even more reasonable juices 
than ever before. 

Can I get this Or that The object of our establishment is to fix in the public 

r> _ i j_i. au:„ fx mind such questions as these, which we are pre- 

Can I match this s\ pai . od ,„ ar ? swer at „„,. st0 res : 

Can I get the latest (J 

Can I get the best of everything j| e o 

Are prices the lowest 

Legitimate merchandising has nothing to conceal. 
Merit is the trademark of success; We don't say much, but our goods arc loud talkers- 

Quality the true test of cheapness. .. not something for nothing-but a marvelous fascina- 

^ ■» tion for the wisely economical. 

J. C. ILLIG & BRO. 

418 and 420 Penn Street READING, PA. 



DRY GOODS I TPHOLSTERY 

First /^ARPETS *^ First 

Floor W a i Floor 



Second 
Floor 



VX/'ALL PAPERS C\\ 



INA 



Second and Basement 

Third Floors 



J. B. MARTIN & CO. 

West King and Prince Sts 
Lancaster, Pa. 



ARPET FACTORY 





STEAM 


ORY 


/^ARPET CLEANING 
^ WORKS 


Mifflin and 


Beaver 


9 West Mifflin Street 


Streets 


Near Y. M. C. A. Rooms 



v? — t ^= Sc =^ — *>^r 



AFTERNOON EXERCISES 



INVOCATION . . by Rev. F. Pilgram, of the Reformed Church 

MUSIC. 
ADDRESS . by Hon. W. U. Hensel, Attorney General of Pemia. 

MUSIC. 
PATRIOTIC ADDRESS . by Jas. R. Kenney, ex-Mayor of Reading 

MUSIC. 
HISTORICAL ADDRESS . by A. F. Hostetter, Esq., of Lancaster 



& t S* — r ^ — \ J_ 

— ^^i (vy ?J$) Si^— 



r 



^ANFjUN 



REBUILT 
R 

4 



..Moase 



P. Annow, Prop. 
120 



and 122 N orW) 

©"street EanCaStCT, Pa. 



IN rebuilding and refitting the Franklin House, no expense 
has been spared to secure the safety and comfort of the 
guests, and it is now one of the handsomest and best 
equipped hotels in this section of the State. 

It has 4 stories, containing 6i rooms, parlors, reception room, 
bridal chamber, etc., furnished in the latest style. Bath rooms 
on each floor. 

Stabling accommodations for ioo. 

Mr. Ammon has had 23 years experience in the hotel busi- 
ness, 13 of which were spent in Lancaster. 




...3 Important 



Pact one ^ F*si rrc F ACT TWO 

Our ready-made \ OV Vi^ W^^ They are made 

garments are right here in this 

all our own city, under our 

make. — lACT THREE direct supervision. 

They are sold 

in a retail way at 

wholesale prices. 

THESE THREE FflCTS 

Explain why our ready-made garments 

lit better, are more stylish and are 
cheaper than the average class of 
ready-made clothing. 

8th|i>enn L-EINBACH 

READING & EJRO. 

P/V. 

Custom Special attention _ ^-ruicnr 

5FS2E3 11 $^Si1£c£ant CLOT 1 IERS 

Floor. Tailoring. 



4^ 



EVENING EXERCISES. 



INSTRUMENTAL CONCERT, to be followed by a 

GRAND DISPLAY OF FIRE WORKS 



#4 



iW 




MONUMENT PROPOSED TO HAVE BEEN ERECTED ON MT. ZION IN 1845. 



THE nONUHENT ASSOCIATION. 



IT was in the spring of the year 1843 that a spirit of patriotism was 
kindled anew, and a feeling of reverence for the departed heroes 
buried on Mt. Zion, betook some prominent citizens in and nearEphrata. 
It was resolved, in order to show true respect and everlasting gratitude 
toward these noble defenders of liberty, that something should be done to 
inaugurate the interest of the general public, and thereby secure the 
means for erecting a fitting memorial to their honor. 

The 4th of July of the same year was selected as an appropriate day 
for the occasion ; a programme was prepared and bills were posted notify- 
ing the public and inviting them to take part in this memorial celebration. 
We need not add how successful and interesting the meeting was, for in 
the forties patriotism was at no low ebb, if ever it was. George W. 
McElroy, Esq., of Lancaster, delivered a very eloquent and learned 
oration, which had its effect and will be found in another part of this 
book, being worthy of perusal. 

The question which next devolved upon the projectors of this worthy 
object, was the necessary funds with which to commence and prosecute 
the construction of a fitting memorial. On the 20th day of May, 1844, 
a subscription book was opened and circulated, which contains the names 
as subscribers of many people then residing in Philadelphia, Lancaster, 
Reading, Ephrata and numerous other places in Lancaster and Philadel- 
phia counties, with a result that netted a neat sum with which to proceed. 

In January, 1845, application for incorporation was made by these 
subscribers, among which we find the names of Joseph Konigmacher, 
R. R. Heitler, David Bauman, Wm. Meily, Isaac Strohl, Geo. W. 
McElroy, Benj. Konigmacher, Bories Fahnestock, Samuel Zerfass, Wm. 
Spera, Christian Smith, Jere. Mohler, John W. Forney, Reah Frazer, 
John K. Findley, George Ford, E. E. Reigart, Christ. Bachman, David 
Iyongenecker, and others. 

The Charter of Incorporation was passed by the House of Represen- 
tatives, of which the Hon. Findley Patterson was Speaker, and by the 
Senate, of which the Hon. William P. Wilcox was President, and approved 




Guaranteed 
Absolutely 
Pure 
Wool. 



All 
Wool 

Und 



FOR 



Men 

Women 

Children 




ft; 




VESTS DRAWERS 

COMBINATION 
SUITS 

NIGHT GOWNS 



STOCKINGS 

SLEEPING 
SUITS 



SOCKS 



BANDAGES 



S. C. HANCOCK 

1 104 Chestnut St. PHILADELPHIA 






19 

and signed on the 24th day of February, A.D. 1845, by Hon. Francis R. 
Shuuk, then Governor of the Commonwealth. 

The charter designated Joseph Konigmacher, R. R. Heitler, William 
Spera, Jeremiah Mohler, John G. Bauman, Edwin Konigmacher and 
Jere. Bauman a Board of Directors, their successors to be elected the first 
Monday in June of each year. The Board of Directors organized by elect- 
ing the Hon. Joseph Konigmacher as President, which office he held 
during the balance of his life, and Jere. Bauman as Sec'y and Treasurer. 

In the year 1855, a supplement to the charter of the Ephrata Monu- 
ment Association was passed by the House of Representatives and the 
Senate, which was approved on the 27th day of April, A. D. 1855, by 
Jas. Pollock, then Governor of the Commonwealth, which designated 
Joseph Konigmacher, Jacob E. Gross, William Spera, Jeremiah Mohler, 
John G. Bauman, Jeremiah Bauman, and Adam Konigmacher, as a 
Board of Trustees to take charge and manage the affairs of the Ephrata 
Monument Association, in accordance with the act passed and approved 
the 24th day of February, 1845, and that all vacancies by death or resig- 
nation be filled by said Board. 

At the first meeting of the Board of Trustees on January 24th, 1856, 
the Hon. Joseph Konigmacher was elected President, and Adam Konig- 
macher, Secretary and Treasurer. 

At a meeting held Feb. 21st, 1863, after the death of Joseph Konig- 
macher, the following officers were elected : Jeremiah Mohler, President, 
and Adam Konigmacher, Secretary and Treasurer. The present Board 
consists of Jeremiah Mohler, President, Jacob Konigmacher, Secretary 
and Treasurer, John F. Mentzer, D. Rhine Hertz, Martin S. Fry, William 
F. Shimp and J. J. R. Zerfass. 




VIEW ON'THE SCHUVLKILL RIVER BELOW READING 



CORNER=STONE LAYING, 1845. 



The following is a short account of the laying of the corner- 
stone of the proposed monument at Mt. Zion, Sept. nth, 1845. 

On the 4th of July, 1843, a movement was made to have a 
monument erected at the burying-ground on Mt. Zion, where many 
of the first settlers of Ephrata rest, and whose graves bear different 
marks of respect and love from those left behind. The soldiers 
buried in this ground up to the year 1843, na( ^ nothing but the 
recollections of a few old citizens, and the time-worn inscription on 
a pine board, 6 in. wide and 6 ft. long, placed over the entrance to 
where lay the remains — many in one grave, and altogether occupy- 
ing about as much space as is usually allotted to twenty graves at 
this period. The board bears this inscription : 

' ^Hier ruhen die Gebeine von viel Soldale C ' 
which means "Here rest the remains of many soldiers " — a simple 
but touching memorial. 

At this time a society was formed for erecting the proposed 
monument, at the head of which was Joseph Konigmacher, Esq., of 
Ephrata. Slowly and carefully did they work until on Sept. nth, 
1845, the following imposing and solemn ceremonies took place, 
being the anniversary of the Battle of Brandywine, Sept. nth, 1777, 
an encampment of soldiers which was commenced on Tuesday, on 
the open space in which Mt. Zion is located. 

The peaceful abode of the pious and learned fathers of Ephrata 
had rarely been the scene of strong worldly gatherings. The valley 
had often resounded to the almost heavenly music, written by Father 
Beissel, the head of the institution. None but those who had heard 
the music, were able to judge of its effects. Those who had heard 
it, spoke of it as realizing their fancy of the song of angels. But 




By sending us a label of Barker's 
Powder and a wrapper of Barker's 
Liniment, we will send you a copy 
of Barker's "K0M1C" PICTURE 
SOUVENIR, a book containing 150 
funny pictures and sayings. 



USE 



BARKER'S 

HORSE, CATTLE 
and POULTRY 

POWDER 

Cannot be surpassed as a remedy for 
diseases of animals. Give it a trial. 

BARKER'S 

NERVE and BONE 

LINIMENT 



A large bottle for 25 cts. Cures Rheumatism, Sprains, Bruises, &c. 

BARKER'S "KOMIC" ALMANAC sent free on application 

Druggists and Storekeepers supplied with almanacs and other ad. matter on application 



The Barker, Moore & Mein Medicine Co. 

PHILADELPHIA, PA. 



Wfiat we Eat and Drink 

Should concern us. It is PURE, FRESH 
GROCERIES we supply. 

Hint) Grade 
COFFEES P TEAS 

Pure Spices, Fine Flavoring Extracts, 
Canned and Bottled Goods, Foreign and 
Domestic Fruits. Full line of Cakes and 
Crackers. Farinaceous Goods of all kinds- 

To be well supplied is to trade with us. 

Our Motto: Good Goods at right prices. 

The Lititz & Ephrata Electric Car Line 
will bring you to our door. 

D. 8. BURSK 

17 E. King street, Lancaster, Pa. 



HIGH & MARTIN 

J. C. MARTIN, Proprietor 

Ghjna, Glass and (joeeusware 

LAMPS, CHIMNEYS, BURNERS, 
SHADES, Etc. 

China Hall 

15 E. King Street 

LANCASTER, ■ PENNA. 



The leading Crockery House of the city for the 
past thirty years. All goods first-class. 

Every article as represented. 

Goods not satisfactory, 
exchanged. 



2 3 

this occasion brought into the lovely place for the third time the 
men of battle, and thousands of the young and old of the county and 
those adjoining. 

Among the strangers present were Col. Scott, of New Bruns- 
wick, N. J., and his interesting sister, Miss Hannah Scott. She was 
then about 80 years of age, yet healthful, cheerful and active. She 
was here while the sick soldiers were in the society's houses. Her 
father, Dr. Scott, afterwards Surgeon General of the army, was one 
of the three physicians who had care of the sick and wounded 
soldiers, and he brought thither his family. Miss Scott was then 
nearly twelve years of age, and her memory was very distinct upon 
many events, especially as it was subsequently refreshed by conver- 
sations with her father. 

At 10 o'clock there was a review of the soldiery by his Excel- 
lency, the Governor of the Commonwealth, who, with part of his 
staff and Cabinet, had come to assist in the ceremonies of the day. 
After the review, the military formed around the site of the monu- 
ment, when the Rev. Daniel Hertz offered a prayer. 

Mr. Fagan, a marble mason of Lancaster, then put into the 
Governor's hands some implements, when his Excellency addressed 
the immense assemblage in English, on the nature of the ceremony 
and the object of the monument. He then read a list of papers 
about to be deposited, and turned and addressed the company in 
German. Both addresses were appropriate and stirring. The cere- 
monies having been concluded, the military formed and received the 
Governor, the Orator of the day, the President of the day, the Sec- 
retary of the Commonwealth, the President of the Society, the 
Treasurer of the State, the Clergy and others (the present President 
walking with the President at that time). The whole body then 
moved towards an adjacent grove, where a rostrum had been erected 
and seats provided for a goodly number. 

After the company had seated, the military was formed on the 
outside, and the Rev. Mr. Buchanan opened the meeting with prayer. 
The President of the day, Col. Scott, of New Jersey, then made a 
very touching and eloquent address, and introduced Joseph R. 
Chandler, who delivered an oration; after which Mr. J. Beck, the 




HEADING R. R. SK'.NAI. TOWER. 



2 5 

Principal of Lititz Academy, spoke for a considerable) [time in 
German. His address was fervent, eloquent and stirring, and his 
appeal to the spirit of the dead, and to one venerable man* present, 
who was at the Battle of Brandywine, was touching in the highest 
degree. The ceremonies of the morning were closed with a fervent 
prayer and benediction by the Rev. Mr. Wooley, of Lititz, a clergy- 
man well known and respected in Philadelphia. At half past 3 p.m. 
an historical address was delivered by George W. McElroy, Esq., of 
Lancaster. It was a beautiful compend of the story of the valley 
and the hill, eloquent and gratifying. 

Among the military were two companies from Philadelphia, one 
of which was commanded by Col. Murphy. We believe none visited 
the beautiful valley for the first time on that occasion, that did not 
feel delighted with the place, and spoke favorably and encouragingly 
of the project. 




SEAL OF CLOISTER. 



* This man was Jacob Angeus, about So years of age, then a resident of the cloister, who said he 
remembered distinctly the bringing of the wounded soldiers from the battle of Iirandywine to 
Ephrata in ambulances and wagons with shelves on each side. 



JAMES W. HENDRICKS 

(Formerly Mansion House) 



W. J. SCOTT 



...Imperial Hotel... 

HENDRICKS & SCOTT, Proprietors 




N. W. Corner nth and Filbert Streets 

PHILADELPHIA 



EUROPEAN PLAN. ROOMS, $1.00 AND UPWARDS. 

All Conveniences, Electric Light, Steam Heat, Bath, &c. Centrally 

located. Half square from Reading Terminal and three 

squares from Pennsylvania Railroad Depot. 



PENNSYLVANIA. 



^IR WILLIAM PENN, the father of the founder of Pennsylvania, 

V / had been a distinguished Admiral under Charles II, and at his 

death left claims of considerable amount, against the Crown for his ser- 
vices. His son William, by way of liquidating these claims, and with the 
still nobler motive of securing an asylum where his Quaker brethren 
might enjoy unmolested the full development of their peculiar tenets, 
sought from King Charles II, a grant of a tract of land in the new world. 
His request was granted, and by the King's order, much against Penn's 
inclination, the new province was to be called Pennsylvania, in honor 
of the services of his illustrious father. The charter was dated March 4th, 
168 1, and confirmed in April. Lord North, then Lord Chief Justice, was 
careful to add several clauses in favor of the King's prerogative, and the 
parliament's right to taxation. His kinsman, William Markham, under 
his direction took three ships and a number of planters to take possession 
of the country, and prepare for the reception of a large number of 
colonists. Many persons, principally Quakers, were induced to emigrate. 
Having thus carefully adjusted his preliminary plans, Penn took an 
affectionate leave of his family and friends, and sailed for Pennsylvania 
in the ship Welcome, on the 30th of August, 1682. Nearly a hundred 
colonists accompanied him. He was given a hearty welcome by all the 
settlers upon his landing at New Castle. He addressed the magistrates 
and people, setting forth his designs and assured them of his intentions 
to maintain their spiritual and temporal rights, liberty of conscience, and 
civil freedom. 

Late in the year 1682, assisted by Thomas Holmes, the surveyor, 
Penn laid out Philadelphia, and soon afterwards many small houses were 
erected. In 1683, the first session of Council and Assembly was held 
in Philadelphia. 

By frequent accession by emigration Pennsylvania in the counties of 
Bucks, Chester and Philadelphia became well settled, and the will and 




BANKS OF THE SCHUYLKILL RIVER NEAR READING. 



29 

desires of Perm forestoocl many trials and difficulties in governmental 
affairs. In the year 17 18, Penn died at the age of about 74 years. The 
affectionate patriarchal relation which had existed between Penn and 
his colony, ceased with his death. New principles of action had also 
sprung up in the colony. After the predominance in England of the 
Protestant succession, by the Revolution of 1688, the Quakers were no 
longer compelled to go to America to avoid persecution ; while a new set 
of men, bent upon the defence and promotion of high religious principles, 
were induced to emigrate. 

Among them came the Mennonites or German Baptists, a sect which 
adhered to the principles of non-resistance, persecuted in Europe, and 
driven from one country to another, sought the toleration of Penn's 
colon}-, and emigrated between the years 1689 and 17 17, many in the 
later years settling in Berks, and the upper part of Chester County, or 
Dunkertown, now 7 Lancaster Co., from the fact that although the Cocalico 
Valley had already been settled, the Dunkers or German Baptists now pre- 
vailed in this section; * quite a settlement had already been formed here. 
In the year 1708, Alexander Mack, of Schriesheim, and seven others in 
Schwardzenaro, Germany, met together regularly to examine the New 
Testament, and to ascertain the obligations it imposes on professing 
Christians. Their inquiries resulted in a formation of the society now 
called Dunkers or First-day German Baptists. 

Persecuted as they grew 7 into importance, they finally resolved to 
emigrate to America, and in 17 19 landed and settled in different sections 
of the then inhabited country. Soon after a church was established at 
Mill Creek in this count} 7 . Of this community was Conrad Beissel, a 
native of Germany, who had been a German Reformed, and fled from the 
persecutions of that period. Intent upon ascertaining the true obligations 
of the Word of God, he conceived that there was an error among the 
Dunkers and that the seventh day was commanded to be observed as the 
Sabbath. In 1725 he published a tract on this subject, which created 
excitement in the society at Mill Creek, and he retired secretly to a cell 
or cavef near the Cocalico, which had been previously occupied by one 
Elimelech, a hermit ; when his place of retirement became known many 
of the Mill Creek society settled around him in solitary cottages. 

They adopted the original v Sabbath, the seventh day, for public 
worship in the year 1728, which has ever since been observed by them. 



* These were not the settlers of the cloister, 
t'l'he cave is still known, but is uninhabitable. 






1113 (cfi&ttnut £heet 



Philad>el6-Ai'a, Pa. 



Bowrr)ao/s 

General 

Store 



W>st 

Str^t 



.PHRATA, PA. 



All goods in our line 

First-CIzvss 

and 

A<ewe5t Styles. 



/*l.iU'_~ No trouble 

V 1011)1175 for ""' P eo P le to show 

always on hand. k<>o<1*. 



C. S. BOWA\Art, Prop. 



Dr. F. Winger 



\ Jruggist 



...Ephrata 

PA. 



3i 

In 1732, the solitary was changed for a conventional life, and a Monastic 
Society was established as soon as the first buildings erected for that 
purpose were finished in May, 1733. 

The first buildings of the society of any consequence were Kedar and 
Zion — a meeting house and convent which were erected on a hill called 
Mt. Zion. And these buildings were converted into hospitals when the 
wounded soldiers from the battle of Brandywine were brought here. 
They afterwards built larger accommodations in the low ground on 
the banks of Cocalico, comprising a sister house called Sharon ; also 
in the rear a large chapel or " saal," for worship and love feasts. About 
50 yards south is the large and commodius Brother House, as well as 
a number of other smaller buildings designed for other uses. (See illus- 
trations in back part of book). 

The society increased in wealth and numbers until in the year 1768, 
when Conrad Beissel died, they numbered over 300 souls. 

At an early period they built a paper mill and established a printing 
office — the second German press in the State — where they printed manj^ 
books, tracts and hymns. 

In the Revolution, the army sent to the mill for paper for cartridges, 
but finding none they seized the printed sheets, and they were fired off 
at the battle of Germantown. The}^ also owned a farm of 140 acres, a 
grist mill, saw mill, oil mill and fulling mill. 





GRAVITY RAILWAY. 



SKETCH OF THE 
LIFE OF JOSEPH KONIGMACHER. 



JOSEPH KONIGMACHER, whose portrait embellishes this souvenir 
as a frontispiece, was born in Ephrata. His ancestors were members 
of the Seventh Day Baptists. He was a man of short stature, but with 
an inclination to obesity, his weight having been three hundred pounds 
in his halcyon days. 

In the spring of 1845, Mr. Joseph Konigmacher was elected the first 
President of the Ephrata Monument Association, being nominated by the 
present President, Mr. Jere. Mohler. Mr. K. bent all his energies toward 
the completion of the monument, and met with considerable encourage- 
ment until some unforseen events occurred to suspend further action. 
Mr. K. remained President until death ended his career. 

His father, Benjamin, was a tanner and carried on that business near 
the town of Ephrata. Joseph being an industrious and energetic young 
man embarked in the same business, and being quite successful, he took 
Jere. Bowman as a partner. 

Mr. Konigmacher' s business brought him in contact with the busi- 
ness men of the cities and larger towns of his native State, and Ephrata 
having quite a reputation as a non-malarial section of the country, 
he allowed himself to be persuaded to receive into his family some of his 
friends and business acquaintances as boarders, who in the year 1846 
induced him to build a fine commodious hotel, and finding the applications 
so numerous he surrounded the main building with numerous cottages, 
where he at one time accommodated and entertained as many as six 
hundred guests during a season. He was patronized by many prominent 
men, such as the late ex-President Buchanan, Thaddeus Stevens, the 
great commoner, also the late Bisphop Potter, of Penna., who had 
with him his family, part of which consisted of ten sons, many of whom 
have risen to places of distinction, ecclesiastically as well as secularly. 
One is now the Bishop of New York, another is high in the Church of 
his fathers, and one was a distinguished General during the late war. 




" HERE REST THE REMAINS OF MANY SOLDIERS. 



The Mountain Springs of Ephrata became under his administration, 
a popular and fashionable resort for residents of Philadelphia, New York 
and Baltimore. 

Mr. Konigmaeher was very prominent in polities, having been elected 
to the lower and upper Houses of Representatives of Penna., and was 
Chairman of the Committee on Lunacy, when he made a very able report 
in favor of the establishment and erection of a State Lunatic Asylum at 
Harrisburg. He was a member of the first Reform Convention called to 
amend the Constitution of Penna. Mr. Konigmaeher was truly a self- 
made man, having received his education in the common schools of his 
county in his neighborhood. 

He was free from parsimoniousness. He made money rapidly and 
used it freely by putting up improvements, thus giving employment to 
many laboring men and mechanics, to whom his death was a great loss. 
He was sociable and affable, with great suavity of manner, and gentle- 
manly in his intercourse with all men, making no distinction between 
rich or poor except as to merit. He was considered unselfish, delighting 
in the prosperity and success of his fellow-man, and was a sincere 
sympathizer with the unfortunate. 

He belonged to no Christian denomination, yet we believe he came 
as near to loving his neighbor as himself, as many men outside of the 
Church ever did. 

It was through his influence that the Reading & Columbia R. R. 
was located to pass through Ephrata. He was elected President of the 
road, but he derived no benefit from this enterprise, as the grading had 
but just began at the beginning of the year 1861, when after a business 
trip to Philadelphia, he contracted a heavy cold, which caused his 
death very suddenly at the city of Lancaster, on the fourth of April, 
1 86 1, in the 56th year of his age, having been born in 1805. 

The above is written from notes given by an old friend and intimate 
acquaintance, Mr. Jeremiah Mohler. 



IN 1843— FIFTY YEARS AGO. 



Forcible Oration then delivered for the Ephrata Monument. 



Quaint and Patriotic Sentiments That Fired Hearts at Ephrata 's First 
Fourth of July Celebration . 



THE following quaint and interesting oration was delivered at Ephrata 
on the 4th of July, 1843, by George W. MeElroy, Esq., on the 
occasion of a celebration of Independence Day, organized in that village 
with the purpose of urging the movement for the building of a monument 
to the soldiers of the Revolution. 

The forcible arguments thus presented fifty years ago, have a present 
interest in view of the present effort to secure an appropriation from the 
State to complete the memorial. This speech is taken from the Intelli- 
gencer of July 25th, 1843. 

" We have assembled here at this time not only to commemorate the 
birthday of American Freedom — that ever memorable Fourth of July— 
but to introduce some exercises preliminary to the commencement of a 
work which has been too long neglected by the citizens of this community. 
It is that of erecting a monument to the memory of the 200 soldiers of the 
American Revolution who are buried on yonder hill — in the immediate 
vicinity of the spot which we occupy. The design of erecting a memento 
of our gratitude to those departed benefactors of our country, I have the 
pleasure to say, was concerted by one of our worthy fellow-citizens who 
now occupies the bench, and has met with the acquiescence and support 
of many other gentlemen in the community of influence and intelligence ; 
so that I doubt not but the project will be continued and completed, let 
the expenses of its erection be what they may. The facts connected with 
the history of the soldiers of whom we have alread)^ spoken are known to 
but few of the citizens of Pennsylvania, or even of Lancaster County. 
Since I have become acquainted with the circumstances, and have 
adopted the plan of making it the theme of conversation among \\\y 
acquaintances abroad, I have truly been astonished at the amount of ignor- 
ance which prevails upon this subject — which, in the estimation of every 
true patriot in the community, ought in right to be the most familiar 



3« 

and prominent portion of our history. There are but few, even among 
the intelligent of our fellow-countrymen, who know that the village 
of Ephrata was, in the days of Revolution, the theatre of as interesting 
a drama of patriotism, perhaps, as was represented during that period, 
notwithstanding they are perfectly acquainted with its location, its 
geography, and its origin. The character of the early settlers of this 
community is known far. The moral reputation which they sustained is 
a familiar subject. Their religion has often been made the theme of 
fireside conversation both at home and abroad. The beaut}- of our 
natural scenery, the salubrity of our atmosphere, the healthful influence 
of our climate," the fruitfulness of our soil ; our woods, our meadows and 
our pleasant streams, have occupied a place in the imagination of the 
poet and the painter ; although, perhaps, they have never looked abroad 
upon our landscapes or contemplated the grandeur and sublimity of the 
reality. Every circumstance connected with our history is familiar to 
the world except the character of those departed champions of our liberty. 
They alone appear to be buried in oblivion. Their memory, instead 
of being made to run parallel with the march of intelligence and civiliza- 
tion in our midst, has declined into forgetfulness — until, save by a few 
of our gray-haired fathers, they sleep in their coffins forgotten and 
unknown. It is time that something should be done, some efficient 
measures be adopted, to rescue their memory from the oblivion into 
which it has fallen. 

I can hardly come to the conclusion that it is even a feeling of parsi- 
moniousness which has prevented our citizens from acting in this honor- 
able embarkation with that spirit of liberality, which has characterized their 
movements in everything else. Yet upon this subject there has been a 
dullness, let it proceed from whatever determination of the will that it 
may. L,et a subscription be presented in any community for the purpose 
of raising a flag to be carried in the front of the procession of some 
political demagogue, and every quill is applied, and every pocketbook is 
emptied. Let a plan be concerted to lay a railroad from one part of the 
government to another — from which no material advantage can be derived, 
but which will be a continual drain upon the treasury of the country — 
and its resources are immediately exhausted, and the people burdened by 
an additional tax for the purpose of commencing and continuing the 
operation. Thousands of dollars can be appropriated by our fellow- 
citizens for the reception and entertainment of the sou of a foreign despot, 
and the talent of the country is exhausted in prosing eulogies upon his 



39 

name and his intelligence ; but when the bones of our revolutionary fath- 
ers call for our protection and our respect, there is a pall in the spirit of 
our liberality, and the project is permitted to die from total neglect or to 
perish for want of successful patronage. An excursion to Cape May or a 
visit to the Mineral Springs of Virginia is provided for without reluctance 
and without remorse, and the value of a thousand dollars is lost in the 
interest occasioned by the launching of a ship or the raising of a shot 
tower ; while, for want of a trifling appropriation, the thorn and the this- 
tle are permitted to grow upon the mounds of our ancestors, and our 
plough shares are suffered to pass over their forgotten graves. 

A celebration of the 4th of July is a novelty in this community ; it is 
the first, perhaps, which has been held in this village since its earliest 
settlement. I have already stated the object of the celebration. It is one 
which had its origin in patriotism — not designed to promote the interests 
of a party or a faction, but rescue from unmerited oblivion the memory of 
more than two hundred soldiers of the American Revolution who were 
wounded upon the bloody fields of Brandy wine, and who died, in conse- 
quence of their wounds, in the hospital at Ephrata. It will become a part 
of our duty, upon the present occasion, to give to the audience a brief 
statement of the facts connected with the history of those men, as far as 
we have been able to inform ourselves upon the subject ; taking into con- 
sideration the time which has elapsed since they were brought to this 
place and the fact that nearly every record which would lead us into the 
details of their history has long since been obliterated. An aged gentle- 
man who was for many years esteemed as a valuable and useful citizen of 
Ephrata, but who does not at this time reside in the village, has given 
me some information upon this subject, which, I doubt not, will be well 
received by you who have assembled here to-day. He has informed me that 
it was a president of the village of Ephrata, in the autumn of the year 1777, 
during which time a number of wounded soldiers (he does not recollect, 
distinctly, the number ; but presumes them to have been about five hun- 
dred) were brought to this place from the battle of Brandywine and 
placed in the hospital— which at that time stood on Mount Zion hill — 
under the care of several skillful surgeons and physicians who were 
appointed to superintend the institution. Dr. Yerkel, a name, perhaps, 
which is familiar to some of you, was the principal of the hospital, and 
officiated as such at court-martials. Dr. Scott, upon whom devolved the 
performance of the principal part of the surgical duties, was his successor, 
and performed many skillful and important operations in his profession. 



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The gentleman from whom I have derived my information was an eye 
witness to several important operations performed by Dr. Seott upon the 
wounded men who had been placed under his care. He saw him ampu- 
tate the legs of several of them, the arms of others, and extract a number of 
bullets which had been lodged in the fleshy parts of the body. Dr. Scott 
was succeeded as principal by Dr. Harrison, whom he represents as a 
kind-hearted, benevolent, good man, who attended to the duties of his 
station with the most unremitted attention and paid the most affectionate 
regard to the interests and welfare of the unfortunate soldiers who were 
the subjects of his skill and sympathy. 

The usefulness of this benevolent physician, however, was cut 
short by the interposition of Divine Providence. He was seized by 
what was called the camp fever, removed from the hospital to the 
house of one Mr. Augus, the father of the present Jacob Augus, our 
worthy president of the day, where he died in a short time and was either 
removed or else buried on Mount Zion hill. The disease which carried 
off Dr. Harrison was contagious, and his benefactor Mr. Augus, was 
taken with it, and died in a few days. This gentleman became acquainted 
with several of the soldiers, whose names he does not distinctly recollect 
at this distant day. Of one of them, a Yankee, he has a distinct recol- 
lection ; he learned him to speak the English language. To the best of 
his knowledge they were brought to the hospital at Ephrata in the 
autumn of the year 1777. The survivors, which were about three hundred 
in number, were removed in the spring of the year 1778, at the time the 
British were in the possession of Philadelphia. The first of them that 
died here was buried with the honors of war — a funeral sermon, preached 
by one of their own number appointed for that purpose. This practice 
was continued for some time, until they began to drop off too rapidly to 
allow time for the performance of the ceremonies, when everything of the 
kind was dispensed with. The soldiers were principally Pennsylvanians 
and Yankees, and few of the British, who had deserted and joined the 
American army. Some of them were fine, clever fellows, and frequently 
ate with him at his table. The camp fever, which they brought with them 
into the neighborhood, was contagious, and several of the most valuable 
citizens of Ephrata were taken with it and died. The number of soldiers 
buried on Mount Zion hill he estimates to be about two hundred ; all the 
others recovered and were admitted again into the army. This informa- 
tion I have obtained from one of the gray-haired fathers of this com- 
munity, who was an eye witness to most of the facts connected with this 
truly interesting and important circumstance. It is a plain, unvarnished 
tale; such an one as would naturally fall from the lips of a man whose 
head is blossomed for eternity ; but who still retains the vigor of youth, 
and the intelligence of unimpaired manhood. 

I am sorry that the journals of that hospital have not been preserved, 
as I have been informed that they were written by skillful hands, pre- 
pared with much labor and accuracy. At the present time, however, they 
are not to be found. No one can tell, with precision, into what corner 



42 

they have been thrown. The hospital, itself, has disappeared. If it were 
not for the sandy soil and the few corner stones which are the landmarks 
of this location, we would scarcely be able to find the spot where it once 
stood. The tall poplars, which protected its windows from the rays of 
the sun, have been driven away by the storm ; and its pleasant yard, in 
which the winds of heaven were permitted to fan the brow of the fevered 
invalid, is now appropriated to purpose of agriculture. At the time of the 
evacuation of this building many of its important records were removed 
into Franklin county, where, in all probability, they remain until this 
day. The world is ignorant of its history ; yet we may indulge the hope 
th it the day will yet arrive when among the ancient manuscripts of our 
fathers will be found a record which will rescue its memory from oblivion. 
The erection of a monument to the memory of the soldiers who perished 
inside of its walls, perhaps, may be presented as the first incentive to 
search. 

One living witness we have in this multitude. Behold him ! Here 
he sits ! The storms of eighty-four winters have swept over him. His 
hair is whitened by the frosts of time, and the weight of years is upon his 
shoulders. Yet here he sits, as the representative of '76. He was the 
bosom friend and companion of Gen. George Washington, in many of the 
trials and vicissitudes which he encountered. If age had not impaired his 
memory he could relate to you many interesting circumstances, which oc- 
curred in the time that tried men's souls. To him this scene must be full 
of interest. The revolutionary drama to him must now appear as a fearful 
and almost forgotten dream, awful in its character yet pleasing in its 
results. How must his bosom beat with the reflection that, perhaps, the 
very soldiers whose dust slumbers upon the summit of yonder hill were 
his companions in the field ; fought in the same battle at his side, and 
were carried, bleeding and wounded, from the same scene of carnage and 
of death. To us he is the chronicler of years. He speaks — although his 
lips are not seen to move. His language, which produces no echo here, is 
that of silent and irresistible eloquence — understood and appreciated by 
every American heart. He, too, has joined this assembly to commemorate 
the birthday of American liberty. He, too, rejoices in anticipation of the 
success of the glorious enterprise in which we have embarked. How 
would it cheer the heart of this aged patriot to know that after he himself 
shall be gathered home to his fathers — after he shall have gone to join his 
illustrious compatriots in chanting their songs of liberty in another world, 
he will not be forgotten, but that friends will weep and the stranger and 
the traveller pause to gaze at and admire the beauties of the monument 
which will mark his resting place and consecrate the depository of his 
mouldering bones. 

The monument which we propose to erect will be raised, if possible, 
by public and private contributions. The sum which will be necessary 
f >r its erection will not exceed two thousand dollars. Committees have 
been appointed by the board to draw up suitable petitions, to be presented 
to the public, asking an appropriation for that purpose. We have not con- 



43 



soled ourselves with the reflection that this measure will meet with 
universal support. We look for — we expect opposition ; and we are pre- 
pared to encounter it. That it will meet with; that opposition, however, 
which will insure its defeat, we cannot and we will not believe. The 
genius of liberty smiles upon our efforts, and the god of nations has hal- 
lowed them ; and although ignorance may cant and avarice may cavil at 
its propriety, though our ears may be assailed by the stale cry of "raising 
the taxes and robbing the public treasury," let us not be alarmed from 
our purpose by charges so unfounded, so inconsistent and so mean. 

Sirs, if it had not been for the war of the revolution and the bravery 
of those who sustained it, there is not a single farmer or mechanic in the 
government of the United States who would not at this moment be taxed 
to at least two-thirds of his income. Shall we then suffer the plan of 
this monument to be defeated by the cry of " taxation ?" Shall we suffer 
the project to die, or to remain unfinished by the paltry consideration of a 
few dollars and cents ? I trust there is more spirit and more patriotism 
in the community than to be alarmed at this mere wind work of opposition. 

There are other considerations which urge this matter upon us as an 
immediate and important duty. Ephrata is not only the resting-place of 
heroes, but has been the theatre of other scenes of patriotism. The 
Declaration of Independence was translated here, almost immediately 
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THE INCORPORATION OF EPHRATA 



AX application for the incorporation of Ephrata into a borough was presented to 
Quarter Sessions Court, April 20th, 1891. The application was the outcome of the 
agitation of the two months prior. Of the 298 property holders of the town, 170 had 
signed the petition, but of course, as in all progressive movements, a counter petition was 
originated and circulated, and presented in opposition at Court, with 102 names attached, 
a number of whom were non-residents. Messrs. Brown and Hensel represented the peti- 
tioners, and Messrs. Steinnietz, Malone and Whitson were attorneys for the remonstrants. 

During the ten years prior to this move the town had a rate of growth of about 300 
p T cent. The population at the time of incorporation was about 2200. A hank, four 
churches and various industries desired the advantages of municipal privileges; a police 
system was needed ; better school, facilities, graded streets and suitable pavements. 

According to announcement a meeting was held in Mentzer's Hall on Saturday after- 
noon, February 14th, 1891, to define the boundaries of the new borough of Ephrata. 
There was a large attendance of property holders and great interest was manifested in the 
movement. The advantages of having borough regulations were presented and fully 
explained. The spirit of the meeting was good and the sentiment in favor of the advance 
movement was almost unanimous, but very lew making exceptions to the step. Messrs. 
George Wise, John R. Messner, J. B. Kellar, J. J. Baer and J. B. Eshleman were 
appointed a committee to make a draft of the proposed lines. George A. Kemper, of 
Akron, was the surveyor, and the entire work was performed with promptness and little 
or no opposition from the property holders along the line surveyed, almost all being- 
anxious to be included in the borough limits. 

The petition for the incorporation of our town into a borough having gone through all 
the preliminary stages, the Court on Saturday afternoon, August 22d, 1891, made a decree 
incorporating it into a borough, Judge Patterson issuing the decree. 

An editorial from the Ephrata Review, August 28th, 1891,- says : "At last the wish 
of our citizens has been granted and we are an incorporated borough. If we citizens per- 
form our duties conscientiously and with a desire tor realizing the best good to the greatest 
number, we will soon reap the advantages to be derived from incorporation. It is now 
necessary to elect to the several borough offices, men who will advance the interests of the 
t )wn. If they are wise and prudent, our streets and sidewalks will soon be in better 
condition than at present, and at a cost but little advance of our past taxation for road 
purposes. An economical and wise borough council can soon put into operation plans 
whereby our streets can be lighted, our schools better regulated, and the town well 
supplied with water. These are questions of the greatest importance and must be met 
n >w and discussed and acted upon." 

The hist borough election was held at the public house of L. E. Royer in Ephrata, on 
Tuesday, September 15th, 1891, between the hours of 7 A.M. and 7 P.M. The following 
officers having been appointed by the Court officiated : Judge, H. C. Gemperling ; 
Inspectors, John II. Spera and A. B. Urich ; F. S. Klinger and W. K. Mohler were chosen 
a> Clerks. This special election was to elect officers to serve until the regular election in 
February following. The total number of votes cast was 443, and was quite large in 
c insideration that the registered voters numbered 536. No party tickets were settled by 
primary election or caucus, and the election was very quiet, there being no disorder of any 
kind, though there was considerable electioneering done The candidates for councilmen 
were most numerous, as there were seventeen persons who aspired to an office for which 
six could be elected. The entire list of candidates numbered forty-eight. The successful 
candidates were as follows: Burgess, G. S. Wise; Council, J. B. Brugger, G. F. Groff, 
.1. J. Baer, J. S. Spangler, Joseph Cooper and A. W. Mentzer ; School Directors, C. B. 
Keller, J. M. Shaeffer, J. Frank Eckert, Samuel R. Hess, Levi S. Landes and Win. 
Ibilig; Judge of Elections, John A. lleyscr; Inspectors, H. H. Stroble and B. F. 
Emmeri : Assessor, Samuel R. Xagel ; Assistant Assessors, Edwin Konigmaeher and 
David Kraatz ; Tax Collector, Levi B. Snader ; Auditor, J. J. Y eager : Constable, 
II. \Y. Cier. 



45 

On Friday evening, September 18th, following the first borough election, the 
newly elected Borough Council held a preliminary meeting at the Eagle Hotel for the 
purpose of organization. S. L. Sharp, resident Justice of the Peace, was in attendance 
and administered the oath of office. Bufgess George S. Wise piesided. Hon. J. Hay 
Brown, Esq., of Lancaster, was elected Borough Solicitor, and promised to explain the 
duties of Council on Thursday evening, September 24th. S. L. Sharp, Esq., was elected 
Clerk. Much laborious and disagreeable work was necessarily well performed by the 
lirst set of Councilmen, and to them belong much credit for their hold stand in the new 
enterprise. 

The present officers of the borough are : Burgess, W. K. Mohler ; Councilmen, Jacob 
S. Spangler, George Groff, A. P. Snader, J. B. Brugger, George Mohler and J. J. Baer; 
Clerk of Council, W. L. Bixler ; Justices of the Peace, W. K. Seltzer and S. L. Sharp ; 
High Constable, Wm. Dunn; Constable] H. W. Gier. 

The town has enjoyed general prosperity and has made rapid strides of improvement 
since its organization. The Board of School Directors immediately set to work and built 
a line eight-roomed school-house at a cost of over $15,000, and Prof. H. E. Gelnnan, with 
an able corps of teachers, was elected principal. He graduated the first class from the 
Ephrata High School in 1893-94. It consisted of live young men and three young ladies, 
all of whom were exceptionally bright. The most notable and marvelous change due to 
incorporation is the educational work, and too much can not be said for all the members 
of the School Board and the honest, conscientious work of Prof. Gehman and his corps of 
instructors, as we have officially been ranked at the head of schools in this county. Thus 
may it ever be, let results prove the system and no one will dare raise his voice against 
the most glorious of our free institutions. 

The town of Ephrata is nicely laid out, though somewhat irregularly, and lies on the 
north and west of the Ephrata hills, and by the Lancaster papers is often called the 
"mountain town," whilst writers in magazines and the daily press have termed it the 
" quaint and quiet village." Suffice it to say that Ephrata has nicely graded streets, fine 
pavements, elegant homes, good water, excellent schools, plenty of churches and s tcieties, 
and is ever hospitable to all repectable visitors. In fact, there is that warmth of greeting 
with our people, that all strangers are loath to leave us when once here. It has had a 
steady growth, such as can withstand the shocks of time and a financial crisis without 
much distress. We are therefore not of a mushroom growth, but staple, productive, intelli- 
gent, progressive, active, energetic, and awake to true citizenship, the highest aim of man 
after the saving of his soul. Much more might be said as to the general push of the 
citizens and the unconscious working together of the same forces. When a new venture 
is proposed, it is generally well discussed and made plain to all before it is adopted, hence 
the few downright failures in what ever Ephrata has undertook to do. 

S. G. Z. 



AFFIDAVITS CONCERNING EPHRATA 
MONUMENT. 



REPORTS being in circulation that the soldiers buried at Ephrata, 
and over whom a Monument is about to be erected, were Hessians, 
we have been requested to publish the following certificate and letter : 

Statement of Peter Shindel of Lancaster City. 

I was at the battle of Brandywiue and belonged to the left division 
of the American Army. After the battle and defeat of the Americans, I, 
with a number of my companions, fled to Marcus Hook, where we spent 
the night in a chairmaker's hut. During the night we heard the wagons 
containing the wounded Americans pass by on their way to Chester — we 



4 6 

could hear the wounded cry as the wagons passed over the stones. Next 
day we also went to Chester, where we saw them all — some were in 
wagons, some in carts, and those who were able to walk did so. From 
Chester they were removed as soon as possible to Ephrata, where they 
were carefully attended to until they died or recovered. From Chester 
we went up to Darby, thence to Philadelphia and up the Schuylkill. 

There were no Hessians at Ephrata at all. The Hessian prisoners 
were kept in Lancaster — about 1,000 of them had been taken at the battle 
of Trenton and brought to Lancaster — I helped to take them from 
Lancaster to Philadelphia myself, where we put them into the old Jail at 
the corner of Third and Market Streets. 

PETER SHINDEL. 
Lancaster City ss. 

Personally appeared before me, the subscriber, one of the Aldermen 
of said city, the above named Peter Shindel, who being duly sworn, 
deposes and says that the facts set forth in the above statement are correct 
and true, to the best of his knowledge and belief. 

Sworn and subscribed, October 20th, 1845. 

JOHN C. VAN CAMP, Alderman. 

New Brunswick, November 10th, 1845. 
Hon. Joseph Konigmacher : 

Dear Sir — You ask me for all the intelligence I have in relation to 
Capt. John McMeyer McDonald. Of course, all my knowledge of him is 
derived from my father. From him I have often heard of that gallant 
and intrepid soldier. He was a volunteer from Virginia, and commanded 
a company like himself, high-spirited and brave. The greater part of 
this company were from New Jersey and voluntarily enrolled themselves. 

The battle of Brandywiue gave to most of them a glorious death — 
sixteen survivors bore off the body of their wounded Commander, defend- 
ing it and themselves with an obstinate valor much more resembling the 
fiction of romance than the narrative of history. The day after their 
arrival at Ephrata, McMeyer McDonald died of his wounds. His own 
soldiers buried him a little distance from the burial place where the 
Monument is now placed. The last survivor of this gallant company 
died about three years ago. He was ninety-one j-ears of age. 

My sister desires me to inform you that she does not remember the 
names of the officers who died and were buried at Ephrata. 

She mentions also that a part of the time that my father directed the 
hospital there, Dr. Reading Beatty and Dr. Ebenezer Smith were two of 
his assistants — John Scott, my father's brother, was the commissary — 
more she does not remember, except that the kindness, fidelity and 
attention of Father Miller, were the theme of much conversation and 
ardent gratitude. 

I am, with the highest respect and esteem, 

Your obedient servant, J. W. SCOTT. 

The following; is a fac-simile of the Senate File. 



No. S4. SENATE FILE. 



No. 64. 
SENATE FILE. 

I 
Mr. EYE R— Corporations. 



READ— Jan. 29, 1845. 



J. M. G. LESCURE. PRINTER TO THE STATE. 



A.N ACT to incorporate the Ephrata Monument Association of the county of 

Lancaster 

1 WHEREAS in the year one thousand seven hundred and seventy- 

2 seven immediately after the battle of Brandywine a large number of Amerr 

3 can Soldiers sick and wounded were removed to Mount Zion now in Ephrata 

4 township Lancaster county and there received the kind and charitable atten 

5 tions of the ministers and members of the Seventh Day Baptist Society 

6 under whose care they were placed and as upwards of two hundred of 
1 these gallant soldiers of the Revolution died and were interred without any 

8 memorial to mark the place of their interment and as a number of citizens 

9 of the county of Lancaster are desirous of associating themselves together 

10 and to obtain corporate powers for the purpose of enabling them to erect a 

11 suitable monument to their memory 

12 Therefore 

1 Section 1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives 



SENATE FILE. No. 64 



2 of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in General Assembly met and it is 

8 hereby enacted by the authority of the same That Joseph Konigmacher 

4 R R Heitler David Bauman William Meily Isaac Stroh George W M'El- 

5 roy Benjamin Konigmacher B Fahnestock Samuel Zerfass William Spera 

6 Christian Smith Jeremiah Moler Benjamin Ulrich J W Forney R Frazer 

7 J K Findlay George Ford E C Reigart and all other persons who have 

8 subscribed or who may hereafter subscribed any sum towards the erection 

9 of the proposed monument and their successors and assignees be and they 

10 are hereby made a body politic and corporate in law under the name style 

11 and title of the " Ephrata Monument Association" and by that name shall 

12 be able and capable in law to have and use a common seal to sue and be 

13 sued plead and be impleaded and do all such other things as are incident 
}i to a corporation 

1 Section 2 The said corporation shall be able and capable in law if 

2 it shall be deemed expedient to purchase and hold so much land and per- 

3 sonal property as may be necessary for the purposes of* "-this incorporation 

4 to lay out and ornament the grounds and to make such by-laws rules and 

5 regulations as they may deem essential to the proper government of the affairs 

6 of the association 

1 Section 3 The businesss of the said association shall be managed by 

2 a president five directors and a treasurer to be chosen annually from the 

3 subscribers by a mojority of the votes given each subscriber to be entitled 

4 to a single vote the election to be held annually on the first "day of June 

5 at the academy in Ephrata in the county of Lancaster public notice of the 

6 first and of every subsequent election to be given at least two weeks pre- 

7 vious in one or more newspapers printed in the city of Lancaster Notice 
% of the first election to be given by three or more of the corporators named 
9 in the first section of this act and notice of all subsequent elections to Jbe 

10 given by the president of the company 



No 64 



SENATE FILE 



i Section 4. The said president directors and treasurer shall make an 

2 annual report on the day of every annual election which shall be duly 

S certified and which shall exhibit fully and accurately the receipts expenses 

4 and expenditures of the said association 




/3f fc S3? (9. C^am <^/ie^ (O/z/ia/a, <§>#. 



NEW 
HOLLAND 



and Qranite 
Works 



T. 



Storb 



New Holland, Pa. 
Lane. Co. 



L. S. LANDES 



General 
Merchandise- 
No. 31 W. Main St. 

EPHRATA, PA. 



BEST GOODS AT THE 

LOWEST PRICES- 




PUBLIC SCHOOL HOUSIC OF KPHKAIA IiOKOUGH. 



BOROUGH SCHOOL. 



THE first Board of School Directors of the borough of Ephrata, 
Samuel R. Hess, Dr. F. J. Eckert, Charles B. Keller, J. M. Sheaffer! 
L,- S. Eaudes and W. O. Heilig, organized Sept. 29, 1891, by electing Saml. 
R. Hess, President, Charles B. Keller, Secretary, and J. M. Sheaffer, 
Treasurer. A move was immediately made to build a commodious school 
house. A lot fronting 200 ft. on Franklin Street, near the centre of the 
town, was bought for the sum of $1400, and a contract awarded to Mr. 
Henry Coldren to build an eight-room house according to the plans sub- 
mitted by W. A. Fink, architect, of Reading, for the sum of $9740. The 
building is large and very conveniently arranged with the Smead-Wills 
system of heating and ventilating, which at this time gives good satisfac- 
tion. A tower and bell were at once placed upon the building. 

On Columbus Day, October 14, 1S92, appropriate dedication services 
were held. State Supt, Dr. J. D. Waller and County Supt., M. J. 
Brecht, with other prominent speakers, were present to assist in the exer- 
cises. Washington Camp, No. 227, Patriotic Sons of America, assisted 
by the True Americans, presented a large and beautiful American Flag to 
the Directors of the school with appropriate addresses, which was placed 
upon the building. Eight months school term was at once adopted and 
is nine months at present, commencing August 20. 

The corps of teachers remains as at first with a few exceptions. Prof. 
H. E Gehman, Principal. Miss Mary H. Tshudy, assistant (instead of 
Miss Annie Sanderson, former assistant), Mr. T. C. Reddig, Miss Kate 
Hoffman, Mr. F. S. Klinger, Miss Mary E. Buckwalter, Miss Mary F. 
Weaver, Miss Flora Sanderson and Mr. J. M. Fry. 

The present Board of Directors are : Dr. D. J. McCaa, President, 
James M. Bingeman, Secretary, J. W. Kiehl, Treasurer, S. R. Hess, L,. 
S. Laudes and I. N. Lightner. 

Another school known as East Ephrata is taught by Miss Carrie E. 
Walker. 



■ » Il ll lt J > — 







fe f V — *"* J * <2J 



EPHRATA. 



STORIES OF THE SINGULAR RELIGIOUS SETTLE 
MENT ON THE BANKS OF THE COCALICO. 



Conrad Basse/ and His Missionary Work — The First Converts — -Where 

Clea?rfi?iess and Quiet Reign Supreme — Rare Productions of 

Music and Books. 



-e-s- 



; 6) 



6 7 



THE houses of the town proper are mostly modern in appearance, 
built of red brick in a conventional style of architecture. 

The town stretches along a broad road which leads gradually 
around a curve, over an old stone bridge spanning the famous Cocalico 
Creek, and then away into the country. Near the broad turnpike road, 
about a quarter of a mile from the village of Ephrata, stands a curious pile 
of buildings of unique architecture. The larger ones are weather-boarded 
with planks or shingles, unpainted and darkened to a deep gray color by 
the action of the wind and weather for a hundred years and more. 

The houses have a foreign, German look ; some few of the smaller 
ones are built of stone, but are uninteresting alongside of their more 
pretentious neighbors. These buildings which form the famous Ephrata 
Cloister, stand on high ground and thus loom up more imposing as 
the visitor approaches. They are great steep roofed houses, several 
stories in height, dotted here and there with many small windows, which 
twinkle and glitter in the sunlight. The floor beams pierce through the 
walls and are pinned upon the outside. The history of Ephrata contains 
perhaps more romantic incidents than are attached to any other settlement 
in the State. 

The inception of this unique community dates back to 1724, when 
Conrad Beissel, a man who learned the trade of weaver under Peter 
Becker, the first Dunker preacher in America, was baptized in the 
German Baptist Church. Beissel was a man of intelligence and erudition, 
far ahead of his times, and yet he accepted the idea of primitive 
Christianity inculcated by that society, and even carried his belief to an 
extreme. Beissel made his home, for a time living the life of a hermit, 
in a cave that had been previously occupied by a solitary named 
Elimelech. But Beissel was not left for any length of time to enjoy this 
solitude, as some of his followers, being convinced that his religious ideas 
were correct, gathered themselves together around his retreat, and there 
settled, in the winter of 1732-3. These three men built a log lint, so as 
to be near their spiritual leader. 

They were soon followed by two women of the congregation, Anna 
and Maria Eicher, who requested permission of Beissel to share the 
seclusion in the wilderness with his other followers. At first their 
proposition did not meet with favor, but, as all attempts to persuade 
them to return were unsuccessful, the brethren finally erected for their 
use a log cabin en the opposite side of the stream. This house was 



6 9 

completed in May, 1735, and the two women, who occupied it, were the 
original members of the Hphrata Sisterhood. 

During the succeeding years many accessions were made to the 
membership of Beissel's congregation, both male and female, and finally 
the community became known as the " Camp of the Solitary." Early in 
1740, the recluse life was changed for a monastic one and the earliest 
buildings of the Cloister were erected. The building now known as the 
Saal, or the Sisters' House, was first erected, and a year later the present 
Sisters' House was completed, adjoining the Saal. When completed it 
was known as Hebron and intended for married couples and widows. 
This arrangement lasted, however, only a short time, when both 
structures were handed over to the Sisterhood. 

The interior of Hebron was altered according to the requirements as 
it exists at present. After these alterations the building was rededicated 
on the 13th of July, 1745. The name of the house was also changed to 
Sharon, and the Sisterhood renamed, and henceforth known as the Roses 
of Sharon, based on the mythical interpretation of the second chapter of 
the Song of Solomon. 

Mother Maria, one of the Sisters, who first followed Beissel to Cocalico, 
was installed as Mother Superior, monastic names were given to all the 
Sisters, such as Sister Kathura, Anastasia, Ruclina, Europhina, Vasilla, 
Jael, Constantia, Sophia, Catharina and Eufasix. Both the Sisters and 
Brothers wore a peculiar monastic habit, similar to that of the Capuchins, 
or White Friars. The Brothers wore shirts, trousers and vests, a long- 
white gown and cowl, of wool in winter, and linen in summer. The 
Sisters' costume was the same, with the exception of a coarse flannel 
petticoat substituted for the trousers. 

There were no of vows celibacy taken by the followers of Beissel, 
although the idea was inculcated. The Prior, whose name was Israel 
Echerlina, took the name of Ouesimus, while Beissel, who refused to 
accept any position of influence, took that of Freidsam, and was given the 
title of the spiritual father of the community. 

From 1740 the society gathered in numbers, until at one time, a few 
years later, the community had about three hundred members. The 
property and real estate grew to be of great value, as the farms were 
cultivated and mills rose on the banks of the Cocalico, built by the hands 
of the Brothers and Sisters. This wealth was the common stock of the 
society, and the income was devoted to the common support. The mills, 
of which but little trace exists to-day, were at one time the most exten- 




^ 



THE SAAL OR PRAYER HOUSE. 



7i 

sive in that part of the country, and it was at Ephrata that one, if not the 
very first, printing press in Pennsylvania was erected. 

To-day the Ephrata imprints are among the rarest and most valuable 
of all publications. They were mostly of a religious nature, many being 
the peculiar mystic writings of Beissel. Perhaps the most interesting 
volume ever published on the Ephrata printing press was the "Martyr 
Book," an immense quarto, of 1700 pages, bound in heavy boards and 
brass, being the greatest of all the earliest specimens of printing 
in America. 

Not the least singular thing about the inhabitants of this peculiar 
settlement was their music, some volumes of which have come down to us 
to-day. This music was composed and written by Beissel himself; it 
was all written in a peculiar minor key for the female voice, and was 
founded upon the melodious and plaintive chords of the Aeolian harp, the 
music of which Beissel was very fond. The Ephrata music was all in 
manuscript, and it is a marvel of beauty and artistic penmanship, the 
results of many years of toil by the inmates of the Cloister. 

The daily life of Beissel' s followers was of the severest kind. Their 
rooms in the Clotster buildings were mere cells, only twenty inches wide, 
while the ceilings are only seven feet high. The doorways were exceed- 
ingly small, but five feet high and twenty inches broad, thus to represent 
the narrow way that leads to everlasting life. The furniture of the cells 
consisted of a bench and a billet of wood for the head. The fare of the 
inmates was principally fruit and vegetables ; they ate from wooden 
plates and drank from wooden goblets. Their occupation was divided 
between prayer and work. Two periods of three hours each was all that 
was allowed for rest or sleep out of the twenty-four. The first period of 
sleep commenced at 9 P.M. This lasted until midnight, when services 
were held in the Saal, after the second period of sleep, from 1 A.M. to 
4 A.M. was granted. The rest of the day was spent in work and devo- 
tion. But one regular meal was served — the midday repast. Such was 
the austere life of these people. 

In 1768 Conrad Beissel, mystic, hermit, musician, monk and founder 
of the Society of the Solitary, died and was buried in the quaint God's 
Acre which had been set aside for the last resting place of the members of 
the community, where the monument is to be erected. Over each grave 
in this burial ground is a simple stone, bearing as a rule only the name 
of the person buried there. A few, however, contain memorial notices: 
one in quaint old German text reads : ' ' Here rests an outgrowth of the 




UEAR VIEW OP THE SAAL. 



73 

love of God, ' Freidsam, ' a Solitary Brother, afterwards a leader and 
religious teacher of the Solitary, and the Congregation of Grace, in and 
around Ephrata. Born in Eberbach in Palatinate, called Conrad Beissel. 
Fell asleep July 6, 1768, in the 52d year of his spiritual life, but the 72d 
year and fourth month of his natural life." Close by Beissel rests his 
successor, Peter Miller, born in Palatinate. Miller came to America in 
1730, and was baptised in the congregation of Ephrata in 1735 and called 
Brother Joabez. He died September 1 1, 1796. 

It was not many years after Bejssel's death before the society began 
to decline, as jealousies and dissensions arose among its members, 
although from a worldly standpoint it continued for several years later on 
to prosper ; but, while the principles of Beissel were not departed from, 
they were not strictly adhered to. 



During the trying period of the Revolutionary War, in 1777, the 
large Cloister Buildings on the hill were taken possession of by the 
American army, and after the battle of Brandywine the Sisterhood of 
Sharon devoted their time to the care of the suffering and wounded sol- 
diers. The dread typhus fever broke out among their patients, but they 
did not shrink from their duty, and hundreds of soldiers were nursed by 
their ministering care to convalescence. How many of the Sisters lost 
their lives by their devotion is not known, as the records of the society, 
from 1773 to 1782, are missing. 

After the Revolution the society showed many signs of decay. Most 
of the original members were then well on in years, and new applicants 
were few ; besides, the neighboring vicinity of the Cloister was beginning 
to be settled. Thus the monastic branch of the community was gradually 
abolished. The last complete entry in the manuscript chronicle of the 
Sisterhood is in the trembling handwriting of Sister Eucia, and relates 
that Sister Meloniga died September 19, 1813, at the advanced age of 87 
years and four months. Below this entry Sister Eucia wrote : 

" Sister Eucia — died in the year 18 — " 

Tradition tells us that the last Rose of Sharon, the final member of 
the order of Spiritual Virgins of Ephrata, also died in the year 1813. In 
1 8 14 the society was incorporated by the Legislature of Pennsylvania, by 
which its affairs were placed in the hands of a Board of Trustees. 



No one should leave the famous old Ephrata Cloister, without an 
inspection of the Saal or Prayer House. It is opened every Seventh-day 




ONE OF THE OLDEST HOUSES ON THE GROUNDS. 







LrfA 41 



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r^k»- r ; 



iJii^\ 



Mil* 



M v. 



"i^'tjfl 



OLD CLOISTER GRAVEYARD. 




75 

morning, for the local congregation of worshipers, there still being a 
number of the Society of the Seventh Day Baptists residing in the vicinity 
of Ephrata. The Saal is a low room, constructed of heavy beams of 
poplar timber, hewn by hand and built by the members of the society, in 
the old days, and few, if any changes have been made in it since its dedi- 
cation in 1 74 1. The beams are dark with age, but the walls are white- 
washed to a spotless purity, and the light that struggles through the little 
windows shows that the floor is actually worn with scrubbing ; so 
painfull}- clean are they that it seems almost a desecration to walk upon 
it ; the nail heads fairly glisten, so brightly are they polished with the 
numberless applications of soap and sand. 

Around the walls are a number of curious antique looking pictures, 
bearing quaint German texts ; these mottoes are all painted by hand, the 
beauty of design and delicacy of execution seems almost to link them with 
the lost art of vellum manuscript painting. Some of the designs are very 
unique ; one of them represents the narrow way leading to eternal life. In 
the distance are innumerable faces and figures gathered around a lamb ; 
the winding path that leads to this group is marked with an appropriate 
text from Scripture. 



Many mottoes relating to celibacy are found. For instance, " They 
that are of the flesh do mind the things of the flesh." " He that is un- 
married cares for the things that belong to the L,ord." Above the 
entrance to the Saal hangs a tablet, on which is inscribed in German : 



The house is entered through this door 
By peaceful souls that dwell within ; 
Those that have come will part no more, 
For God protects them here from sin ; 
Their bliss is found in forms of love 
That springs from loving God above. 



On the tables in the Saal numerous old books are to be seen, printed 
many years ago for the use of the monks and nuns. 



THE READING TERHINAL. 



The Market Street Terminal Station of the Philadelphia & Reading 
Railroad, which will be known as the "Reading Terminal Station," is 
situated at the Northeast corner of Twelfth and Market Streets, and ex- 
lends northwardly to Cherry Street, a distance of 1020 feet 7 inches, the 
frontage on Market Street being 266 feet 10 inches. The buildings 
comprised in this area are the Head House, or Station Building proper, 
which includes the passenger waiting room, ticket offices, etc., and the 
various offices and counting rooms for the officials and clerks of the 
company. 

To the noi-th of the Station Building, at the street level, are the in- 
coming and out-going baggage rooms, the cab ]obb}% the express offices 
and storage rooms, the large restaurant, the Reading Terminal Market 
House, and the Power House, with some additional space as yet unap- 
propriated. 

Below the street level, and under the .Station Building, is the engine 
room from whence is served the power for the various apparatus used in 
the building. This is connected by tunnels with the cold storage vaults 
under the Market and also with the Power House. 

The Station Building is 1GS feet in height from the engine room floor 
to the top of the parapets on the roof. It has, including- the engine room 
and the storage rooms above the offices, eleven stories. 

At the track level, in the rear of the main passenger waiting rooms, 
there is a passenger lobby 266 feet in length by 50 feet in width, imme- 
diately north of which is the Train Shed, 507 feet in length, covered by a 
span 266 feet 6 inches over all and containing' thirteen tracks. 

The Station Building is arranged with stores in the basement. On 
the first, or ground floor, are the quarters for the Treasurer and his clerks, 
accommodations for the employees of the Coal and Iron Company, and 
Ticket Offices, Post Office and lower waiting room. 

At the track level, twenty-five feet above the street pavement, there are 
a Ladies' Waiting Room, Main Waiting Room, Restaurant and Dinine 



78 

Rooms, tog-ether with toilet and smoking rooms. Above this level, the 
several floors are divided to suit the convenience of the various official 
bureaus, and there is a commodious kitchen in the upper story. 

The Station Building is constructed of pink brick, trimmed with white 
terra cotta, the first story being faced with pink granite. The partition 
walls throughout the building, above the waiting rooms, are of solid 
Mackite construction. The floors are supported throughout upon 
structural iron ; those above the waiting rooms being of solid plank, pro- 
tected on the under side with Mackite plaster boards. The partitions and 
iloors of the second story, including the waiting rooms, are of brick laid 
in cement. All of the iron work throughout the structure, except where 
brick is used, is covered with Mackite. 

The building contains nineteen toilet rooms. It is heated throughout 
with radiators supplied with steam, not to exceed one pound above the 
atmosphere, from the exhaust of engines operating the electric light 
plant, elevators, etc. The ventilation is maintained in all of the office 
rooms by means of electric fans placed above the roof. The ventilation 
from the toilet rooms is drawn by means of both fans and aspirating 
coils. 

The entire surface area covered between Cherry and Market Streets is 
221,800 square feet. The entire cubic contents enclosed is 19,150,000 cubic 
feet. The Head House or Station Building proper has a floor space of 
270,000 square feet, a surface area of 26,700 square feet and contains 4,125,000 
cubic feet of space. The Main Waiting Room is 35 feet in height with a 
floor space of 100 x 78 feet, having a content of 273,000 cubic feet. The 
Ladies' Waittng Room is 19 feet in height with a floor space of 58 x 43 feet, 
having a content of 47,380 cubic feet. The Reading Terminal Market has 
a height of 24 feet, and a floor space of 304 x 200' •> feet, having a content of 
1,944,(K)0 cubic feet. The Power House at Cherry Street has a floor space of 
23,000 square feet and a content of 553,000 cubic feet. 

The machinery installed and necessary for the operation of the 
Station, etc., including the lighting of the Reading Terminal Railroad, 
and the operation of the switches, is as follows : 

Six steam boilers aggregating 1,500 horse power ; a refrigerating plant 
of l.io tons capacity; dynamos, engines, etc., Tor 300 arc lights; dynamos, 
engines, etc., for 1,400 sixteen candle power incandescent lamps, alterna- 
ting current ; dynamos, engines, etc., for 3,000 sixteen candle power 
incandescent lamps, direct current ; pumps, accumulators, pipes, hydrau- 



79 

lie apparatus, etc., for 14 ram elevators; pumps, air receivers, hydraulic 
engines, apparatus, etc., for 4 passeng-er hoist elevators and 2 ram 
elevators ; 5 pumping- engines for water supply and fire service ; 2 air 
compressors and dynamos for switches ; and 5 ventilating fans. 

The boilers, refrigerating machinery, electrical apparatus for arc 
lights and for alternating- current, incandescent electrical lights, air 
compressors, etc., for switches and for two water supply pumps, are located 
in the Cherry Street Power House. The coal for the boilers is dropped from 
the track level into large bins adjacent to the boiler room. The ashes 
from the boiler room are lifted by means of an automatic hydraulic hoist 
from the boiler room to above the track level, where they are dumped into 
ash cars and then removed by train. 

Two pipes carry steam at a temperature of 340° Fahrenheit, from the 
boiler room a distance of \,22r> feet to the engine room under the Station 
Building. These pipes run through tunnels under the streets, through 
the cold storage vaults and through the power house. They are covered 
with magnesia sectional covering- two inches in thickness and run within 
four feet of two 10 inch mains carrying brine at a temperature of .1° below- 
zero which are covered with speciallj- prepared hair felt three inches in 
thickness. 

The engine room under the Station Building contains engines, dyna- 
mos, etc., auxiliary pumps and accumulators for ram elevators, the pumps 
and other apparatus for passenger elevators, together with the various 
pumping engines for water supply and fire service filters, etc. The ex- 
haust steam from the engines in this room is used for heating the 
building, the water of condensation being returned back to the boilers. 
That there ma)' be as little waste as possible, the water used for conden- 
sing the ammonia used in the refrigerating apparatus is pumped to the 
boilers after passing through a feed water heater. 

The machinery, apparatus, pipes, electrical conductors, lamps, etc., 
are so arranged that one is a complement of the other, and only extraor- 
dinary accidents could possibly cripple the service in any of its details. 



That portion of the Reading Railroad System extending from the city 
of Reading to Lancaster and to Columbia, is still known as the Reading 
and Columbia Railroad, its corporate title. This road was incorporated 
May 19th, 1857, and was opened for traffic April 1st, 1N<>4. The main stem 
extends from Columbia to Sinking Spring, a distance of 39.50 miles, with a 



8o 



eye- 



branch from Lancaster Junction to Lancaster, 8 miles, known as the Lan- 
caster Branch. The entire line is laid along - the Cocalico Valle} r , a region 
of gentl}' rolling- farm lands, and Lancaster Count}- through which the 
road principally runs, is one of the most fertile counties in the State of 
Pennsylvania. 

At Sinking Spring the Reading & Columbia Road intersects with the 
Lebanon Valley Branch of the Reading Railroad and uses the tracks of 
the latter branch from that point to the commodious and extensive station 
at Reading, where connections are made for all points on the Reading 
System and its connecting lines. 

From Reading- the tracks of the Reading- Railroad branch out like the 
spokes of a wheel from the hub ; the Main Line to the South extending to 
Philadelphia and New York and to the North to Pottsville, Tamaqua, 
Shamokin and Williamsport ; the East Pennsylvania Branch reaches to 
Allentown ; the Schuylkill & Lehigh Branch to Catasauqua and the 
Lebanon Valley Branch to Lebanon, Harrisburg, Carlisle, Gettysburg- and 
Shippensburg-. 

The construction and equipment of the entire Reading Railroad is 
first-class in ever}' respect, the tracks are of the heaviest standard steel 
rails, the roadway perfectly ballasted, the engines of the most powerful 
pattern, and the cars of the latest design, and for comfort cannot be 
excelled. 



L.ofC. 




LB da '05 



